STACK #190 Aug 2020

TV REVIEWS

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Home on the range. YELLOWSTONE: SEASON 1&2

One girl will change worlds. HIS DARK MATERIALS: SEASON 1

RELEASE DATE: 12/08/20

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RELEASE DATE: 05/08/20

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Kevin Costner returns to the American West (not that he's ever really been away) in this sprawling family saga set on the eponymous cattle ranch. Owned and run by the wealthy Dutton clan for generations, this prestigious plot of Montana land is coveted by developers and the neighbouring Native American reservation, and the Duttons will stop at nothing to hold on to their home where the buffalo roam. Co-creator Taylor Sheridan (the Oscar-nominated

Thirteen years after the disappointing film The Golden Compass , Philip Pullman's best-selling fantasy trilogy finally receives a worthy screen adaptation from the BBC and HBO. It's better cast and more faithful to the first novel, Northern Lights , retaining some provocative theological themes that were left out of the movie. Set in an alternative England, where humans are bound to animal spirits called 'daemons' and the sinister Magisterium seeks to repress the use

screenwriter who scripted Hell or High Water and Sicario ) spins a dense, character-driven yarn in which the Old West collides with the new, and reveals that not a lot has changed on the range in the 21st century. Not just for Western buffs, Yellowstone will appeal to those looking for a layered and dramatically rich tale of family conflict. AC

of magic, there's a Harry Potter vibe to the tale of spritely youngster Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen, Logan ), who embarks on a quest to rescue her best friend in the frozen north and becomes caught up in the forces that bridge her world with parallel ones. Season 2 has already been completed and is scheduled to premiere later this year. SH

MYSTERY ROAD: SERIES 2

MODERN FAMILY: SEASON 11

TOM CLANCY'S JACK RYAN: SEASON 2

THE BLACKLIST: SEASON 7

RELEASE DATE: 05/08/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 12/08/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 12/08/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 26/08/20 FORMAT:

Investigating the grisly discovery of a headless body in the small coastal community of Gideon, WA, Detective Jay Swan (Aaron Pederson) uncovers the town's dark underbelly and the possible involvement of a drug syndicate. Could an archaeological site provide a clue to the mystery? A spin-off from the 2013 film Mystery Road and its sequel Goldstone , the second series of this AACTA award winning crime drama boasts some heavyweight Indigenous talent, with Warwick Thornton ( Sweet Country ) and Wayne Blair ( The Sapphires ) sharing directing duties, and of course the terrific Pederson as the stoic cop caught between two cultures. AC

It's time to bid farewell to TVs much loved extended – and modern – family in the final season of the Emmy-winning sitcom-cum-mockumentary. With the family home beginning to resemble a motel, Phil and Claire have moved into the RV in the driveway; Alex returns from Antarctica; Cam must choose between a dream home and a dream job; and Haley and Dylan are coming to grips with parenthood. Modern Family has delivered consistent laughs and life lessons over the last decade, and the two-part finale will satisfy fans with a sentimental last hurrah. This crazy clan will be much missed. BS

Revenge is a dish best served cold, and the newly promoted Jack Ryan (John Krasinski) is hungry. Following the assassination of his best friend in Venezuela, the country's despotic president is now on Jack's hit list. Indeed, there's a darker edge to the globetrotting agent this season, and Krasinski has comfortably settled in and made the iconic role his own. Reflecting today's geopolitical climate, season two delivers more of the propulsive action and espionage that fans expect, and adds Noomi Rapace ( Prometheus ) to the cast as a mystery woman and romantic interest for Jack. AC

Season seven kicks off with Red (James Spader) being kidnapped by Katarina Rostova (Laila Robins) in Paris, but what's the connection between a mysterious blacklister known as "The Illusionist" and his abduction? Other blacklisters on Red's, er, blacklist this season include a specialist in bioweapons; a purveyor of deadly thrills for wealthy clientele; and a group that have scammed him out of priceless artworks. There's also the matter of the suspicious death of an AI specialist. With production on the season finale halted by the pandemic, the creative team have completed the missing moments using graphic novel-like animation, and it works a treat! BS

22 AUGUST 2020

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